Davis likely watching negotiations from afar

Negotiations have broken down between the NFLPA and ownership with reported differences of opinion on how much rookies should be paid in the event of a wage scale as well as the basic matter of who gets what with regard to the revenue split.

The last time things were this contentious, a strike was averted in March of 2006 in part because Al Davis took a leading role along with commissioner Paul Tagliabue and executive director Gene Upshaw. When the deal was consummated, both Tagliabue and Upshaw publicly credited Davis for helping to avert a work stoppage.

Two years later, the owners elected to opt out of the agreement _ something either side could have done. The vote was unanimous, meaning even Davis voted to opt out of the agreement he helped put together.

At the Jan. 18 press conference announcing the hiring of Hue Jackson, Davis was willing to give his opinion on almost everything except the possibility of a work stoppage.

“I just would like to stay out of it at this time,” Davis said. “We have a management council that’s working on it, the commissioner is heading it up with (NFL executive vice president) Jeffrey Pash and we’ll see where we get. No one has asked me to come forward.”

Thirty-owners voted for the last agreement, with Cincinnati and Buffalo abstaining.

Davis has always been considered a player’s owner, and it’s conceivable his fellow owners feel he would be willing to give too much away. He conceded his voice may not be what it once was, especially with Upshaw having passed away five months after the agreement.

“I don’t have Gene Upshaw, he’s my captain for 15 years and I drafted him No. 1 when everyone said we were crazy,” Davis said.

Besides determining the split between players and owners, the division of money with regard to profit sharing is huge for the Raiders, as is a provision which would set aside money to assist in the building of new stadiums.

In previous years, when I’ve asked Davis about the team’s ability to compete relative to its comparatively meager revenue stream, he flatly rejected any suggestion that it had an effect. His tone changed this year.

“The last few years, we don’t have the resources that other teams have,” Davis said. “I think we have shown we can compete, but it’s a question of winning and what happens with the collective bargaining agreement”

Davis reaffirmed his belief that the current site, is best for a new stadium, applied my estimate of 22,000 season ticket holders and said, `if they can’t get it done, you’re going to have to use other avenues . . . if we’re going to compete, we’re going to need a new stadium and we’re going to fight to get one. We want the fans out there, you’ve got to support us, you’ve got to help us. Someone said 22,000 fans. We’re at the low end and we’ve got to do better. That’s just the facts.”

FRANCHISE PERIOD UNDERWAY

Teams can begin designating franchise players today, and according to story rounding up likely candidates by the NFL Network’s Jason LaCanfora, the league sources said Zach Miller would likely be tagged by the Raiders.

Miller is worth keeping around, given his status as the club’s leading receiver in each of the last four years and status as a Pro Bowler, but to do that would mean leaving Richard Seymour free to go in the absence of a long-term contract.

Seymour was franchised last season at approximately $12.4 million and would receive a 20 percent increase if franchised again, or just under $15 million. Given the way Davis and Hue Jackson have talked up Seymour this offseason, and the fact that Oakland shipped its first-round draft pick this April (No. 17 overall) to New England to get him, I still think Seymour is more likely to receive the franchise tag.

It’s worth noting the NFLPA is questioning whether the league can even franchise players in the event of a lockout, and that any player who is franchised could be susceptible to an entirely different set of rules once a CBA is reached.

All you have to do is to wait for it. Sometime as the NFLPA and the League play their rich men-richer men game of chicken you will entertain here posts by KiffinRaider and KK that Al Davis is to blame for whatever transpires.

yep, in here it’s always Ground Hog Day, but unlike Phil Connors they never get it right.

RaiderDebo

Just Fire Baby Says:
February 11th, 2011 at 4:01 pm
Debo,

Aren’t you the one who always cries that it is a team effort and QB’s don’t win or lose games by themselves (yes you are that person).

So how does Jamarcus “single-handely” beat Denver?? Did he “single-handely” also lose the other 9 games that year? Did Bruce “single-handely” beat Pitt and Cincy?
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

Never said Grads didn’t beat Pitt. But he didn’t do shcitt against Cincy. Cincy lost that game plain and simple. And JR gets all the credit for the Denver win. By the time he got into the game, there was ZERO pass pro. Denver was living in the backfield with a four-man rush. To make the crucial plays he made when he made them trancends stats. Off the bench, on the road, with everyone in the world against him. That he came through with the victory says a hell of a lot more about his “competitive fire” than his demeanor on the sideline. Al gave up on him way too early while the likes of Alex Smith get 7th years to get it right.

RaiderDebo

===================================
Only the Redskins worked him out..and that was probably just to spite Al Davis. No one else wanted even a work out….and he wouldnt settle for the UFL or CFL.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@’

Why the hell should he settle for the UFL when he’ll be in an NFL camp this year? And he drew interest from the Vikings, Bengals, Jets and Dolphins. Appearantly, his workout with the Skins was very impressive. Stay tuned.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/ KoolKell

I’d love to see JaRussell sit behind JaSoup for a couple of years, under Hue Jackson.

oo

Tollner discussed working for Raiders owner Al Davis.

“Extremely unique,” Tollner said. “I don’t want to get into this too much. Al is very sensitive to everything, everything. One thing Al knew about me was when he asked me my opinion, he was going to get my opinion, not one I thought he wanted to hear. I’m not into stroking anybody. Don’t stroke somebody to save your job.”

RaiderDebo

KoolKell Says:
February 11th, 2011 at 4:46 pm
I’d love to see JaRussell sit behind JaSoup for a couple of years, under Hue Jackson.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

If JR would have been given the opportunity last year, there’s no doubt in my mind he would have beaten JC out.

http://Www.bullycains.com r8dercain

Just Fire Baby Says:
February 10th, 2011 at 3:05 pm
So if Al isn’t going to these meetings, it would seem that Amy Trask would be there representing the Raiders.

I wonder how the good ‘ol boys like having a chick at the bargaining table?
———————
I hear she can be quite the bi$ch

http://Www.bullycains.com r8dercain

KoolKell Says:
February 11th, 2011 at 4:46 pm
I’d love to see JaRussell sit behind JaSoup for a couple of years, under Hue Jackson.
——————–
that’s why 31 other teams sought out his svcs. Hahaha lol

RaiderDebo,
Please… You can’t be serious. Russell had every opportunity in the world and he effed it up royally. To suggest otherwise is simply stupid. He is/was a physical giant but in reality he is a mental midget. You make me laugh…

JB

KoolKell Says:
February 11th, 2011 at 4:46 pm

I’d love to see JaRussell sit behind JaSoup for a couple of years, under Hue Jackson.
**************************
I think you underestimate JCampbell significantly. JaLoser will never be a starting NFL QB – EVER!!! He doesn’t have the maturity, self discipline, desire and overall skill set necessary to be a successful NFL QB. JCampbell does have a much better skill set to start with. I’m hoping he will stabilize under HuJack and the same offensive system and start to really show us something. If we can put a decent O-0line in front of him, he’s got a chance to be a very successful QB. He needs more confidence, more demonstrated leadership and the support of the organization to go to the next level. We know he has great play faking ability; better than average mobility, a fairly strong arm and better than adequate intelligence to run this offense. An additional year with the same offensive skill players should produce significant positive results. With JaLoser all you get is a blob with a cannon arm but nothing else. I’ll take JCampbell over JaLoser every time. JaLoser is just a big target to knock on his a$$. He needs to stick with the Madi Gras King ceremonies. There, he can probably excel.

olinesux

al davis will save the nfl…again.

Al Davis Supremo

He better. He’s the one who put the NFL together. To many jobs are at stake, not just the players. Al knows better and will do what is right for him, then the rest of the league, and then the rest of the country. Al will go from the nations most disgusting sports figure to the nations most admired sports figure for saving the NFL. You can take that to the bank. As sure as the sun rises from the east, Al will get ‘er done.

Al Davis Supremo

All this retro wishing Jamarcus Russell shoulda whatever……….All I know is for all that money he got fron Uncle Al, which was a lot, more than some third world countries GNP, whats the big deal about how he won a game or two. For all that money he got, which was a ton of it, he sure should have won a game or two. Uncle Al paid a very large sum of money, a very large sum of money, to have his qb win a game or two. Uncle Al can do whatever he pleases with his money. It’s his money. He doesn’t tell me how to spend my money, so I won’t tell him how to spend his. If he wants to pay millions and millions and millions to a qb to win a game or two, thats cool.

http://www.jamarcusrussell.com/ Breakfast Cereal Mascot

305.KoolKell Says:
February 11th, 2011 at 4:46 pm
I’d love to see JaRussell sit behind JaSoup for a couple of years, under Hue Jackson.

………………………………….

Care to give a reason why?

Just Fire Baby

KoolKell Says:
February 11th, 2011 at 4:46 pm
I’d love to see JaRussell sit behind JaSoup for a couple of years, under Hue Jackson.

*******************************

Only way Al would consider that is if Jamarcus walked through the door with the check for $9 million dollars Al is suing him for.

Just Fire Baby

Appearantly, his workout with the Skins was very impressive. Stay tuned.

*********************************

Obviously no more impressive than Patrick Ramsey’s, who they gave the job too.

Jamarcus will never collect another NFL paycheck.

Al Davis has many allies amongst the owners, and when Al slapped that lawsuit on Jamarcus, that effectively ended any interest most teams had in him.